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Lankapuvath - Tea exports during January/November 2001 including imported tea/re-exported totalled 271 million kgs as against 262.2 million kgs during same period in 2000. This reflects a marginal increase of around 3.2 percent. During the year 2000 exports totalled 287.9 million kgs which was an all time record. Therefore, if exports during December equals the December 2000 figure, we would better last year's record, a spokesman for the Forbes and Walkers told Lankapuvath.

Total export earnings have increased to Rs. 56.7 billion from 47.8 billion during the same period in 2000 (an increase of 18.6 percent) and has already surpassed last years's record earnings of Rs. 53 billion. Therefore, if the monthly earning should equal the revenue generated during the month of November, we would end up at around Rs. 62 billion, a significant increase in rupee terms, he said.

However, the tea production for November 2001 has been released at 27 million kgs which reflects a decline of 1.7 million kgs compared to the corresponding month last year. However, it should be noted that the monthly production for November 2000 which was 28.7 million kgs was an all time record crop for the month analysing the production statistics further it would be relevant to note that the decline has essentially been from the low grown sector which reflects a deficit of 2.5 million kgs against the corresponding month last year (minus 15 percent) whilst high and ID grown have recorded marginal increases of 0.3 and 0.4 million kgs respectively.

During the cumulative period January/November 2001, production has totalled 268.1 million kgs against 278.5 million kgs during the corresponding period last year (a decline of 10.3 million kgs or a decrease of 3.7 percent). Here the deficit has essentially been from the high and mid grown sectors which have declined by 8.4 million kgs (11.5 percent) and 2.5 million kgs (4.9 percent) respectively. The Low Grown during the cumulative period have in fact recorded a marginal growth of 67 million kgs or 0.45 percent.

It is now evident that the Sri Lanka's cropping pattern where record annual crops were established over the last seven years will be reversed this time in all probability the annual production figure is likely to be around 295 million kgs against 305.8 million kgs during 2000, he said.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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